Lately I’ve been meditating on Colossians 2:6-7. It’s my verse for this year. Here it is…

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it[a] with thanksgiving.

Here is what I’ve been thinking about. The first word rooted is an interesting word. In the original Greek language, the tense of the verb suggests that it’s not something that we do… but something that is done to us. Literally Christ roots us in Himself. It is His work to root us in Himself not mine. However, it is my job to allow Him to root me in Himself. To cooperate with His work in my life.

The word built up is another word that has caught my attention. It word suggests community. It suggests relationship both with Jesus and with His people. It suggests that Jesus is the one who builds community around us. The unifying factor is Jesus Himself. The presence of Jesus.

So… Jesus roots us in Himself and then He builds a community around us that is unified by His very presence.

The problem for most of us is that we don’t allow Jesus to root us. We take matters into our own hands. We plan our own lives and “network” our way into the communities we think we need to be a part of to get ahead in this life. We don’t allow Jesus to plant us where He desires. The result is that we find ourselves striving to attain and thus we find ourselves striving to maintain. I see the effects of self effort on relationships, families, careers… especially as I counsel people. I see the effects of self effort in ministries where a well meaning leader begins well, but in the midst of striving to hold on to a ministry changes and become more controlling, more demanding, more abusive and eventually stumbles and falls because of pride. All because we are the ones trying to root ourselves in Christ instead of allowing Jesus to root us in Himself.

Earlier this year I prayed and said to the Lord that I wanted this verse to be true for my life. The result has been amazing. Amazing in the sense that it has thrown my life into crisis as God is literally uprooting me from myself and the community that I have wanted to be a part of. How many of you know that the methodologies of God can be confusing at times – until you get through to the other side? He’s always good, but not always safe!!!

On the flip side, the result has been amazing in that God has revealed Himself more to me in the last few months than in the last few years. There is an intimacy with Jesus that I haven’t experienced in years. I’m watching Him build His community around me. It’s not what I thought it would be. Connecting me to people I would have never imagined. Opening doors that I could never have opened on my own. I’m seeing His favor in my life in ways that have surprised me. Unexpected ways. It’s mind blowing.

What about you? Are you striving to fulfill your dreams? Maybe God has spoken to you and like Moses you’re trying to bring His word to pass in your life. Why not stop and allow Jesus to root you in Himself? Why not rest in His work in your life?

I want to leave you with this prayer. I heard Pastor Chuck Smith from Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa pray this before stepping out to minister and I’ve made it my own prayer. I want to encourage you to make it your prayer. It’s the prayer of a man or woman who is completely surrendered to the work of Christ in their life. It’s the prayer of a man or woman who looks at life from the place of wonder… looking forward to what God will do as he or she allows Jesus to root them in Himself and build His community around them. Here is the prayer… make it yours.

Lord we look forward to seeing what You’re going to do by the work of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen